Banjo



J. B. HOWE.

(No Model.)

BANJO.

No. 314,295. Patented Ma.1.24, 1885.

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JOHN B. HOVE, CF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. S14-,295, dated March 24, 1885.

Application filed December 30, ISH,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. Hown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is an under side perspective View of a portion of a banjo with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a perspective view of my invention, Fig. 3, a detail View, partly in section, of the device for securing the bell to the brace-bar of the banjo and rendering the bell adjustable; and Fig. LI, a modification of my invention.

rIhe present invention has for its object to provide a bell to bear against the head-skin of the banjo, consisting ot' a ring connected by suitable means to the brace-bar and rendered adjustable to increase or diminish the pressure of the ring upon the head,and thus modify the tone; also, providing such a bell with a mute, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the usual hoop or frame ofthe banjo, having the head-skin a connected thereto by suitable straining devices.

My improved sounding device, which I term a bell, consists of a metal ring, I3, of any suitable diameter, provided with cyeplates b, to receivea guide-rod, C, one or both ends of the rod being screw-threaded to engage with screw-threads in the eye-plates, or otherwise connected to said plates in a manner that will admit ofthe ring turning upon the axis of the rod. A sleeve, D, provided with a transverse hole,through which the rod C passes,is fastened at any point along the rod by a set-screw, c. rIhe sleeve D is screw-threaded a portion ol its length at each of its ends to receive the setscrew, and also the screw-threaded end of an angle-prod, F, the opposite end thereof terminating in a block, d. This block fits in a slotted clamp, E, and is caused to travel in the slot by an adj usting-screw, c, provided with a suitable thumbnut, f, the threads of the screw (No model.)

engaging with a screw-threaded hole in the block d. This clamping device is for the purpose of attaching the bell or ring B to the brace-bar f/ of the banjo, as shown in Fig. 1, the rod C being provided with a mute, G.

rEhe clamping or fastening device may be of any desirable form and construction that will provide means for securely connecting it to the brace-bar of the banjo, spurs h being used to prevent the clamp from slipping on the brace-bar. After the bell, with its mute, is secured in place, as shown, by turning the screw c in the proper' direction the angle-arm E will be moved outward in a direction toward the under surface of thehead-skin a, and carry with it the ring B, which is pressed against the head-skin. causing the spurs h to enter the brace-bar g. The attachment should be placed in the center of the banjo, on the brace-bar, the bar or rod C being under the latter and parallel therewith, so that the mut-e G will be moved in line of the strings.

As all brace-bars are not placed in banjos at the same angle, or perfectly parallel with the head-skin, it is necessary to provide means whereby the ring and mute may be adjusted to conform to these irregularities, which is accomplished by the anglearm E. Thus by turning the adj Listing-screw e the angle-arm is moved forward or backward, the ring is moved in a true vertical line, and by means of the pivotal connection of the ringwith the rod C the former may be tipped to either one side or the other. A further adjustment of the ring B is provided, which is in the direction of the length ofthe rod C, means for attaining this end being shown in Fig. 8. By loosening the setscrcw C, the rod, with its ring, can be moved in a true horizontal line to the right or left, and held in its adjusted position by the set-screw, which is screwed tightly against the rod, whereby the ring, with mute, is caused to press evenly on the headskin a and with equal force. The mute G is also adjustable, in that it is capable of sliding and tipping on the guiderod C, so as to press evenly on the headskin a.

In Fig. et I have showna modification of my invention,which dispenses with the eye'plates b, and instead of having the guide-rod C continuous it is made in sections t, being rigidly IOC) secured at its outer ends to the ring E on a true diametrieal line, and the inner ends loosely fitting in sockets in the ends of the sleeve D, whereby the same adjustments ot' the ring` are obtained.

The bell or ring when in eontaet with the lieadskin of the banjo produces a ronnd,sharp tone, the mate modulating il; to a soft, sweet tone, thus greatly improving` the ordinary harsh, iiat tone ot' a banjo.

Having` now fully desoribed my invention, what I elaiin as new, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rihe Combination, with a banjo, oi" a bell consisting` of an adjustable ring adapted to press upward against the head-skin thereof', and provided with means for eonneciing` it to the brace-bar ot' the banjo, wherebf,Y its Tertias and for the purpose set forth.

SFr/.2,295

2. A bell i'orbanjos, Consisting ofa ring` provided with an adjustable mute, said ring adapted to be brought in Contact with the head-skin of the banjo, substantially as and for the purpose speeiiied.

3. A bell i'or banjos, Consisting` of a ring, a gguide bar or rod connected thereto and extending diametrieally across the same, and a sleeve connected to the bar or rod and to an anglearni adjustably eonneeted to a Clamping` or fastening` deviee i'oi attaeln'nent; to the braeebar of the banjo, substantially as and for the purpose speeilied.

ln lestiniony that l elaini the above I have hereunto subscribed iny name in the presence ot' two witnesses.

JOHN i3. HOWE. lifitnesses:

Elimina H. onin'oi, fines Far. 

